ALBINOS IN AFRICA

Albinism is a rare, non-contagious, genetically inherited condition occurring in both genders regardless of ethnicity, in all countries of the world. BOTH the father and mother must carry the gene for it to be passed on even if they do not have albinism themselves.

Black woman,White skin Kenosha Robinson an albino on the fashion page of

The condition results in a lack of pigmentation in the hair, skin and eyes, causing vulnerability to sun exposure and bright light. Almost all people with albinism are visually impaired, with the majority being classified as “legally blind”. While numbers vary, in North America and Europe it is estimated that 1 in every 20,000 people have some form of albinism.

b Mother and her Albino Child

In Africa albinos have been facing persecution and discrimination whiles some other African state also see nothing wrong with people living with albinism. In some African Culture and tradition albinism is a sign of bad luck in the family and as a result they are ostracized from the family to avoid being ridiculed by the other members of their community.Among the Mandinke people of Mali a child born with albinism is an ill-omen and a shame to the family. It is even seen as a curse and that child is not allowed to come anywhere near their own family and is in the view of this that is why Malian renowned singer dubbed "the Man with the Golden Voice and inventor of Afro-pop" music Salif Keita was ostracized from his family despite being born of royal blood as a direct descendant of the founder of the Malian State, Sundiata Keita.

Malian Albino singer, Salif Keita

In Ghana,albinos are called "Ofiri Djato" (fair person) which is quite different from how they call a caucasian/white person as "obroni." Albinos in Ghana don`t face any persecution at all. There are some how are even very influential in the national affairs. A celebrated legal luminary and the long time president of Ghana Boxing Association (GBA),Moses Foh-Amoaning is a well-known albino who easily mingles with people in Ghana without any discrimination.

Attorney Moses Foh-Amoaning,Ghana`s leading Sport Analyst

Among the Akans in Ghana albino is just like any other Akan with different skin i.e black person in white skin. As young people there was this mystery story about albinos that they do not die but just get translated out of this world. It is also believed that the great Okomfo Anokye, the priest that conjured the Golden Stool for the Ashanti kingdom and is also a co-founder of Ashanti kingdom was an albino (Ofiri). Albinism in Akan culture is well understood that there is even a great deity of worship in one Akan community (i.e the Brongs) that bears the name " Kwaku Firi shrine" at Anwoase (Kwaku the Albino).

It is therefore wrong for the international community and some foreign media to treat Africa as if it is a continent that is barbaric and they just take joy in persecuting and discriminating against people living with albinism. One can only do a meaningful analysis of the problem that albinos are facing from the get rich mentalities of the youths of today in Africa who via what they see on the media are bent on using any means to get rich quicker. It is this "get rich or die trying" mentality that has also make the albinos become an endangered species in Africa as some "juju/medicine men" claims albinos blood and body-parts are very potent for rituals and can bring one instant wealth and luck.

An albino Royal in procession with his Akan Chieftaincy retinue

Now before I get into types of albinism and issues of albinos in Africa, let us ponder if albinos are the the species of homo sapiens that caucasians originated from?

Albinos--The Origin of the
Caucasian Race?

As
new information comes down the pike, it is necessary to rethink
theories that were once in place. The origin and labeling of the
“so called” Caucasian, Negroid, and Mongoloid Races by 19th
Century scientists, started racial groupings based on skin
color by naturalists and anthropologists like Johann F. Blumenbach,
JA Gobineau and HS Chamberlain. These men also equated skin
color to psychological value and importance to race.
Blumenbach named whites after the Caucasus Mountains because he
thought the purest white people originated there. He didn't
seem to realize the following:

Russia, Chechens, Armenians, and other Southern Russians are
considered to have Black Negro origins and Caucasus Mountains
people are classified as "black" and are discriminated against.
Blacks have lived in Southern Russia since prehistoric times and
have occupied the Black Sea Region since the time of
Senwosret/Sesostris
(2000 BC) when Africans dominated the region. (SEE 'HERODOTUS' ON
THE COLCHIANS).
Albino woman

Today The
American Anthropological Association declares there is no such
thing as race which is merely a “social construct.” If that is
the new scientific principle, then….There are plenty of
scientific facts to back up this principle. According to The
South African Institute for Medical Research in review – Journal
of South African Science, THE HIGH FREQUENCY OF ALBINISM IN
AFRICA provides more clues to early African history. The
Department of Human Genetics at the SAIMR is currently involved
with numerous research projects, most related to human genetic
disorders and population origins--one of these, ‘Albinism in
African peoples’ having received particular attention because it
offers new insights into the historical movement of peoples in
sub-Saharan Africa.

The albinism syndrome shows parallels with sickle cell anemia. The
carrier of the sickle cell mutation is at an advantage in regions
where malaria is hyperendemic, which includes large areas of
Africa.

BaAka mother with albino son. The BaAka (also called the Bayaka or Aka) are a nomadic people of the Western Congo Basin in Central Africa. They are part of the wider grouping of Mbenga people, historically called pygmies. Albinism is a genetic disorder characterized by a lack of the pigment melanin, which gives colour to the skin, hair and eyes. Those affected are known as albinos. Photographed in the south-western region of the Central African Republic.Credit:TONY CAMACHO/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

About one in 35 southern African blacks is a carrier of an
albinism mutation, a surprisingly high prevalence for a genetic
disorder where the homozygote is at a survival disadvantage.It is postulated that the
albinism carrier may actually be at an advantage, possibly also
with malaria as the selective agent. It has been suggested that
mosquitoes are less likely to alight and take blood from a
lighter-skinned person and thus the albinism carrier may be at an
advantage over darker-skinned people. The testing of this
hypothesis is opening up a new line of research into malaria
studies, which may yet show some other selective agent may be
responsible for the high frequency of albinism in Africa.

The new scientific genetic
information derived from the Human Genome Project, an
international effort to decode the information embedded in the
human genome, confirmed to the world by scientists in the East
Room of the White House (June, 2000). We all evolved in the last
100,000 years from the same small number of tribes that migrated
out of Africa and colonized the world". "All human beings are
99.99% the same at the DNA level and the remaining 0.1% genetic
variation that exist seldom segregate in a manner that confirms to
the racial boundaries constructed by social political means.”

Many years before the Human
Genome's Project announcement of its historical DNA findings on so
called "race" (in June of 2000), historians have revealed that
human beings, during the primitive era in ancient/antiquity Africa
- The Origin of Humankind/Humanity states that due to the lack of
knowledge about inbreeding (between closely related parents) they
did not understand why their off spring were born with "white
skin." Scientists say "white skin" is a form of Albinism (a
genetic defected offspring -- lacking melanin).

Cystic Fibrosis was thought to
be a disease that affects mostly Europeans, but there are studies
that now confirm that the most likely origin of the mutation is
the African Continent.

The CF studies also tie-in
with population migration investigations. Since the common African
mutation has also been found in Zambia and Cameroun, it too
supports the Bantu Expansion Hypothesis. It is worth noting that
the mutation has also been found in African-Americans, in Saudi
Arabia and in Greece on the same chromosome background (haplotype),
suggesting a single origin. The most likely origin of the mutation
is indeed the African Continent.

Cystic fibrosis (CF) was
first described in Europe in the late 1930s. It was later shown to
be surprisingly common with, on average, one in 20 individuals of
European origin carrying a CF mutation. It was widely believed to
be absent or very rare in Black Africans and was taught as such to
generations of medical students. Only a handful of cases were
described in African Blacks in a period of over thirty years,
although it was well documented among African-Americans. CF was
originally thought to be present in the latter because of
admixture with individuals of European descent.

Albino girl

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a rare, genetically inherited
condition passed on by both parents to their offspring, resulting
in a significant reduction in or absence of pigmentation in the
hair, skin, and eyes at birth. Individuals with albinism are very
fair-skinned and fair-haired, with (most often) blue eyes that can
take on tones of purple or red in bright lighting.

But due to
such lack of knowledge as to why their "white skinned" off springs
came about, African mothers and fathers became more and more
fearful and suspicions and began to separate their growing number
of "white skinned" off springs away from the "black skinned"
(pigmented) population.

Eventually most of the
"white skinned" off springs of "African" mothers and fathers
formed several groups and began to migrate northward through Egypt
to another area of Africa which is now called Europe, seeking a
more hospitable living environment and to escape the intensity of
the equatorial hot climate of the great river valleys and great
lakes region of Central, Eastern and Southern Africa which was
then and still is South of what is now called Egypt.

The "albino" group moved up
in the mountainous area during the Ice Age or Glaciations period
that lasted thousands of years further isolating themselves from
their original parent population in Africa. And by being in such
isolated living condition for such a prolonged period they also
interbred (within the existing parent groups) thereby creating
additional "albino" offspring from "albino" mothers and fathers
who were then and still are direct descendents of African mothers
and fathers.

A mutation results in a change of the DNA
sequence within a gene or chromosome of an organism resulting in
the creation of a new character or trait not found in the parental
type. There is blonde hair among the black Australian
aborigines. That is an example of a mutation. Albinism
is a good example of a mutation. Other examples of mutations
are blondism or whiteness among monkeys, apes, and chimpanzees.

Biblical Evidence
of White Skin

There are many cases of individuals
turning white in Jewish biblical history. When God wanted to
show Moses a miracle, he turned his hand "white as snow;" then God
turned his hand back again to its original color of black.
In ancient Israel when a man had a white spot on his skin or white
or yellow hair, or white skin somewhat reddish, he was pronounced
unclean. All people who were victims of this shameful
disease were isolated outside of the camp or city and segregated.

Some theories equate Albinos with the
origin of the Caucasian Race. This website has many validations
for the origin of the Negroid Race, but what about the Caucasian
Race? Certainly Frances Cress Welsing hit the nail on the head
with her book, The IsisPapers (1991).

The White Race has the genetic inability
and absence of melanin to produce the different skin
pigments seen throughout the world. That absence of skin pigment
creates the inability to produce colors. As a result, uncolored
or white skin is produced. White Race genes are at a recessive
global juncture. Recessive genes delineate body characteristics
that are masked or not expressed when a contrasting dominant black
or brown gene or trait is present. The black/brown genes create
people who have curly hair and whose skin is easily tanned.

As the recessive
gene disappears, anthropologists are rushing to reclassify the
world's Black and Brown Races. Through "Caucasian racial
engineering" some Brown Races have become hypothetically "White."
It has increased the White Race totals with a lopsided
apportionment numbering system. The system has been designed to
expand and extend White Race counts, which only amount to 8
percent worldwide (United Nations Population Division, 1+).

In “Echoes of the Old Darkland” by Charles
Finch III, MD by a doctor of medicine (Yale) the following is
quoted: “We propose that the ... population that survived the
last glaciations in southwestern Eurasia was largely a group of
albinoids who were better adapted to the ecology than their darker
relatives who had originally colonized the area. These latter
were gradually replaced by albinoids, though small groups of
African aboriginal types long persisted on the North Atlantic
seaboard because of the availability of Vitamin-D-rich salt-water
fish. This “goodness-of-fit” of the albinoids in this northern
environment was due to the more efficient Vitamin D production and
utilization in the whitened skin in these sunlight-deficient
latitudes and better cold resistance.

The Ice Age had the practical effect of
isolating this marginal group from other populations for a
prolonged period, promoting a consanguinity that would have
allowed the recessive albinoid genes to express and propagate
themselves. Creation of a new race via de-pigmentation is
consistent with the tendency in nature of new species and
subspecies to form out of marginal groups that have become
isolated from their “parent” populations and subjected more or
less abruptly to extreme environmental conditions, which generate
intense selection pressure.” (Op. cit. p. 35) Albinoid mutation
seems as good a speculation since the fossil data and genetic data
both seem to rule in favor of a common, Black African ancestry for
all mankind.

Albino models

People with
Natural Blonde Hair are Disappearing and will be Extinct in 200
Years.

New research suggests that people with
blonde hair will be completely extinct in 200 years. Blonde hair
occurs only in people from northern Europe. The blonde gene that
causes blonde hair color must be on both sides of the family, and
according to the World Health Organization, there is now too few
people who carry it.

Professor Jonathan Rees from Edinburgh
University is leading a two-year study into the genetics of
blondes. Scientists say blondes will survive longest in
Scandinavia where they are most concentrated, and they predict the
last one alive will be from Finland.

Globally, the White Race risks "genetic
color elimination." Caucasians /8 per centers are rapidly
presenting the world with a conjured-up system of
so-called "statistical numbers of non-truth" as a way to implant
new suppositions and beliefs. The non-truth firepower has the
ability to deliver psyche-up, illusory gunfire amounting to
numerical warheads on the target of more Caucasian deceit. The
duplicity will end up fabricating a sort of actuality--statistical
ballistic weaponry warfare to MAXIMIZE the dwindling White Race
group numbers.

The original Indo-Europeans referred to,
as Aryans were nomads who herded animals in the steppes north of
the Black Sea, in what is now the Ukraine. Between 5,000 and
6,000 years ago, the Aryans migrated into Europe on horseback and
conquered a series of cultures. The Encyclopedia
Britannica concurs with British historians. When trying to
trace pre-historic man to Europeans, it was found that
Indo-Iranian languages make up a major branch of the Indo-European
family of languages (Bower, 120+).

The Sinhalese Language is an Indo-European
language of the Indo-Aryan family. The earliest surviving
specimens of the language are brief inscriptions on rocks in
Brahmi Letters from 200 BC. The most considerable amount of dated
Aryan language dates to about AD 1000 (Encyclopedia Britannica,
567).

Linguistics link the Iranian language to
African languages. Iranian languages include the Arabic
language. Arabic belongs to the Semitic language group. Semitic
includes Ethiopic and Hebrew--people who lived in one of Black
Africa's greatest civilizations. The implication being made is
the following: Caucasians cannot validate their rudiment White
civilization. It has been proven that civilization started in
the great river valleys of Africa in the Fertile Crescent. The
human race was born in Africa, and it is only logical that the
evolution of White men started in Africa.

Tanzanian Albino kid

Snowflake, the only albino gorilla ever observed. Captured from the wild by poachers in 1967, Snowflake, originally from Equitorial giunea forest lived out most of his life at the Barcelona zoo. He died at the ripe old age of 40 due to skin cancer, probably related to his albinism. He outlived all of his 22 children, none of whom were albino, but lived to see his many grandchildren - a rarity for gorillas

The EncyclopediaBritannia
outlines the lack of or absence of historical sources to trace the
process of Swedish Expansion and the Viking Era around AD 400.
The same is true for Denmark. It is written--The first
trustworthy written evidence of a kingdom of Denmark belongs to
the early Viking Period. Roman knowledge of this country was
fragmentary and unreliable. The same is said for the other
Scandinavian countries.

Currently, the Smithsonian Museum is
inviting people to examine the Atlantic Saga of the well-known
culture of the Scandinavian Viking Age (AD750-1050) as they
discover America. They landed in Newfoundland, Canada exactly
1,000 years ago. It is being hailed as a "discovery." An endnote
has been added that there is generous support from the Nordic
Council and Ministers of Volvo.

The Caucasoid/8 per centers' numerical
deficiency has created a sort of numerical abundance because White
groups now have psychologically increased their numbers with the
many different White classifications of: German White Race,
English White Race, French White Race, and Russian White Race.
This justifiably amounts to many White Races even though
theoretically there has been a three-race theory staunchly in
place since the 19th Century.

The same psychological numerology works to
minimize black/brown groups and forms the White "labeled minority
classifications" geneticists refer to when "feeling their oats on
the genetic highway to a White majority." Dividing black/brown
people into groups and referring to the groups as "non-white" or
"people of color," presents a purely natural tendency to think of
black/brown people as lesser because of the fewest number of
numerical classifications. Therefore, Black and Brown people have
become minorities in the mastermind scheme when the statistical
numbers of abundant craftiness are presented globally.

From sea-to-shining-sea.
History shows that discrimination in this country
occurs in all races that are not considered Caucasian. Asians,
for example, have experienced a long history of discrimination
even though the Asian Race is coined as the "Prototype Minority"
worthy enough to grace the White American dominion. In 1854 the
California Supreme Court ruled that Chinese citizens were not
permitted to testify against Whites. In 1882 the Chinese
Exclusion Act banned all immigration from China.

In 1913, California declared Asians
ineligible for citizenship and prohibited property ownership. In
1924 the National Origins Act excluded most Asians from migrating
to the US. With the outbreak of World War II one hundred and ten
thousand (110,000) Japanese Americans were relocated to internment
camps. It was only in 1952 that Asians born outside the US were
permitted to become citizens--but now have been termed the “ideal
minority.” Today most Blacks and Latinos continue to be subjected
to extreme economic and social discrimination; whereas, most Asian
Americans are not. Asian Americans have been labeled the "ideal
minority."

King James invented "discrimination of the
divine" when he and his team of 47 European interpreters
translated the King James Version of The Holy Bible.
Purity, virtue, and goodness spew from every pictorial page of
White European Biblical characters. The Bible
reveals a blue-eyed White Jesus hanging on a cross, a
golden-haired White Moses showing the "Tablets of Law to the
People," and praying at Mt. Sinai upon every turn of a page.

I am King James, and I proclaim "Ham, the
youngest son of Noah, to be the father of the Black Race."

Ham is the father of the Black Race
because he was cursed and "condemned to Hell" states King James
and his team of European Interpreters. In Gen. 9:18-29 Ham is the
recipient of a curse--"Let Canaan be cursed."

Hey, that means Canaanites were Black.
What do ya know!!! Berber describes the indigenous Caucasoid
people of Northern Africa in the scholarly White dictionary and
encyclopedia, but Berber is defined as people who speak Hammitic/Semitic
Languages. Hey, does that mean Berbers were Black? The Cushite
(Ethiopian) and ancient Egyptian also spoke Semitic Languages.

Ham--the Originator of the Black Race "the
accursed" and all of his descendants will be damned. Eurocentric
church officials developed a mind-set of "heathen Blacks" to
devise and formulate deceptive historical attitudes and
viewpoints.

The Aryan Nation believes its group does the on-going work of
Jesus the Christ in re-gathering His people, calling His people to a
state for their nation to ring in His Kingdom. The Aryan Nation
believes that Adam, man of Genesis, is the placing of the White
Race upon this Earth. Not all races descend from Adam. Adam is
the father of the White Race only. (Adam in the original Hebrew
language is translated: "to show blood in the face; turn rosy."
Genesis 5:1).

The Book of Enoch
Hamitic/Ethiopic Authorship: The Book of Enoch--which is
considered to be the earliest biblical record of antiquity and the
earliest book of Hamitic authorship is widely quoted throughout
the King James Version of the Bible. The Book of Enoch was found
among the Dead Sea Scrolls in the caves of the Qumran. Enoch was
Noah’s grandfather and Methuselah’s father. Methuselah was the
oldest man in the Bible living to be 969.

After reading the Book of Enoch, it is
evident that the entire Creation of Heaven and Earth depicted by
King James and his translators has not been taught in America’s
churches. Why? Did King James and his translators use
manipulatives to gain control and purposely hide Hamitic/Ethiopic
authorship? If this book was written before the book of Genesis,
and is Hamitic--aren’t we back-to-Black? Webster’s Warped
Dictionary verifies that Ham was the Originator of the Black
Race. (Brown, Ronald K. BOOK OF ENOCH, San Antonio, Texas 78210).

Reuters Photo - September
2009

Associated Newspapers, LTD

Black Brazilian Parents have
three Albino Children

According to the Enoch--one of the Lost
Books of the Bible, there were a Race of Angels numbering 200 who
were sent to Earth to watch over mankind. The “Watchers” looked
upon the women of the Earth and found them fair and pleasing to
the eye. The women gave birth to what is known as (Nephilims)
Giants of the Earth. The Book of Enoch comprises the following
topics:

Second Coming of Jesus Christ and
Judgment

Skills and Knowledge Taught by the
Fallen Angels

Children of Angels to be destroyed

Disobedient Angels Incarcerated Till
Judgment Day

Prophecy of A New Heaven and A New Earth

MESSIANIC REVELATIONS

PROPHECIES OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE
DEAD

GOD Promises to Dwell with the Saints

The King James Version of the Bible starts
with Genesis and the creation of Heaven and Earth. In Genesis
4:15 God orders Cain out of the Garden of Eden. Cain goes out
from the presence of the LORD, and dwells in the land of Nod, on
the East of Eden. There he knew his wife and conceived. “The
Land of Nod” appears right there in the Fourth Chapter of
Genesis. If Adam and Eve were the first two people on earth,
what was the Land of Nod? The word “Genesis” is be-rasheet
in Hebrew, an African/Edenic language that Western philologists in
the 18th Century classified as part of the family of languages.
Be-rasheet means “in the beginning” in a time when God
created all things. (African Heritage Bible, 1).

Leprosy among the Hebrews and Snow White Miriam

In 14th century B.C., plagues were endemic
through the Middle East and Egypt. The Book of Numbers tells us
that Miriam and Aaron, sister and brother to Moses, revolted
against their brother’s leadership. Miriam and Aaron spake
against Moses because he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they
said, Hath the Lord indeed spoken only to Moses? Hath eh not
spoken also by us?” Their challenge to Moses angered God. As a
punishment “Miriam became leprous, white as snow” (Greenberg,
197).

The original man can be linked directly to
the "Neanderthal" and "Cro-Magnon" Man 10,000 years ago through
archeological measurements in size and stature to the Bushmen-Hottentot
population of South Africa. Any US or European research book or
encyclopedia show the reader a White man who is half man and half
animal. Charles Darwin (Mr. Charlie) and other evolutionists
would rather have the world believe man evolved from apes than
from a Black man.

As Europeans were busy labeling the entire
Black Race as cursed and accursed, a fair-haired English physicist
came up with the color spectrum in 1666 that disputes the "White
European Hamitic Theory." The theory clearly denotes that if
Noah and his wife were Caucasoid, it would have been impossible to
produce three different races of people. The Keys to the Colors
Theory was proven by Newton over 300 years ago, but WarpedWebster's Dictionary still defines Ham as the "Father of
the Black Race."

Reference books will tell you the majestic
Sir Isaac Newton was credited with the discovery of the color
spectrum. The theory presents solid proof that black is the
foundation or base for all colors. Newton was the celebrated
White English physicist who took a glass prism and passed a beam
of sunlight through it. When the light passed through the prism,
it formed a rainbow he later called the color spectrum.

By mixing the three primary colors of red,
blue, and yellow together, the color black is produced. Black is
the color from which all other colors are produced and is
dominant. White, on the other hand, is the color of maximal
lightness from which no other colors can be produced and is
recessive. Just because white reflects all colors does
not mean it is possible to get all colors from white. A little every day thing like the exalted Sir
Isaac Newton's so called discovery of the color spectrum shows
more validity as it points to an African origin than the many
years of research and long drawn out scientific theories to
disparage and dismiss Black culture and history.

Congolese Albino rapper N`kashh

While scientists interpret, record, and
test their theories, all they need is a small box of Crayola
Crayons containing three crayons and a sheet of paper to prove the
Keys to the colors.

Albinos occur in all races of mankind and
in all animal groups. The albionotic condition arises from
a distinct hereditary interference with the normal function of
melanocytes. The enzyme tyrosinase is necessary for
the formation of melanin and determines the color of the
skin, hair, and eyes. Most children with albinism are born
to parents who have normal hair and eye color for their ethnic
backgrounds.

White skin is a form of albinism.
There is no difference, microscopically speaking, between the
white skin of a Caucasoid person and the skin of a person
designated as an Albino. Black people with albinism tend
to have hair of a deep bright yellow, cream-colored skin, and
green or hazel eyes. The social problems of Blacks are compounded
if a child is born and is an Albino. In the Caucasian Race blonde
hair, blue eyes, and alabaster skin are considered so highly
desirable that brunettes often bleach their hair or wear colored
contacts to look like Albinos.

One of the most glorious periods of
English History was that of the reign of Queen Victoria
(1819-1901). The Victorians wore white wigs and powdered their
skin to a chalky white probably in awe of their ancestors. Similarly, the
powdered white wig worn by American colonial era illuminati
reflected the wearer's ability to afford luxury items and
identified him as one of the educated elite.

In Biblical times people with albinism
were banished or thrown out, and forced to live in colonies just
as people with leprosaria or Hansen's Disease were
forced to live in leper colonies and away from other people. The
Black Race believed that God was delivering judgment on a family
with albinism and that the individual with albinism is cursed or
is the embodiment of sin.

White-skinned people came into existence
thousands of years ago as the Albino mutant offspring of
black-skinned mothers and fathers in Africa. A sizable number of
these Black parents produced, rejected and then cast out of the
community their genetic defective albino offspring to live away
from the normal black skin-pigmented population. There were
colonies of albinos formed which eventually migrated northward to
Europe, to escape the intensity of the equatorial sun of the
Southern hemisphere (Welsing, 23).

During Biblical times Albinos were
ostracized. The same thing is happening today when Albinism
occurs in society. Albinos are ostracized by their own
families--especially in Black families where the difference in
skin color is more distinct. The ostracizing of Albinos during
Biblical times is the only logical explanation of how the White
Race came into existence. The Albino colonies produced more and
more Albinos until there was an Albino Race.

The Finnish, Swedish, and Danish people
are "as White as pure driven show" with blonde hair that is almost
White. The two groups of people show a strong evidence they were
part of the composition of the Albinic/White Race that moved
northward. White European geneticists that the union of two
albinos will produce children that are affected with albinism have
validated it. The parents of albinos are often
consanguineous since it increases the likelihood that both will
possess the same gene. The Albion tic condition creates an
extreme sensitivity of eyes and skin to the sunlight.

There was a migration of the African
Albinos northward to what the world recognizes as Europe. During
Biblical times Europe was part of Africa. Europeans themselves
designated and divided Africa into the regions of the "Middle
East" and "Europe."

Skin color is determined by melanin.
The large molecule of the pigment melanin is formed in the
skin cells from a much smaller molecule called tyrosine.Tyrosine is colorless and is present in all cells. In the
skin cells of most human beings there is at least one gene whose
job is to manufacture tyrosine. If the gene is of a type
that can form considerable quantities of tyrosinase, the
skin cell is like a well-staffed factory.

Considerable quantities of melanin
are formed, and the person possessing that gene has dark-brown
skin, black hair, and dark-brown eyes. If the gene were a type
that manufactured only a small amount of tyrosinase, the
reverse would be true. Little melanin would be formed, and
the person would have fair skin, light hair, and light eyes.

An Albino's genes do not form
tyrosinase at all. No tyrosinase occurs in their cells
and no melanin can be formed. Such people have very fair
skin, white hair, and no pigment at all in their eyes. The eyes
look reddish because small blood vessels can be seen through the
transparent colorless iris of the eye (Boyd & Asimov, 72).

Classification of albinism

Traditionally,
albinism has been classified according to clinical phenotype, and the 2
main categories are oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) and ocular albinism
(OA).

The albinism subtypes were reclassified in 2009. With the
availability of new molecular genetic studies, the classification of
albinism has shifted emphasis to genotype as opposed to phenotype alone.[1] Hence,
this has led to redefining existing phenotypic categories and the
addition of new subtypes based on specific genetic mutations. The
following is a brief overview of the current classification of albinism.

OCA
is characterized by the reduction or absence of melanin in the skin,
hair, and optic system (including the eyes and optic nerves). The lack
of skin pigment results in a pale skin appearance and an increased risk
of skin cancer. As shown in Table 1, OCA is divided further into several
subtypes based on the distinct genetic mutation.

OA
is characterized by changes in the optic system only with no clinical
difference in skin and hair color. As shown in Table 2, two major
disorders exist in this category, ocular albinism 1 (OA 1) and autosomal
recessive ocular albinism (AROA).

The research work below done on albinism in Africa would be of beneficial importance to people living in Africa and overseas and are interested in educating some African society where individuals see albinos as potent ritual body-parts. The problem that albinos face in Africa is not actually about their hatred for albinos but rather it is being fueled by the so-called potency of their body-parts in rituals. So the education should rather be on the health implications of one giving birth to albinos.

ALBINISM IN AFRICA AS PUBLIC HEALTH ISSUE

Abstract

Background

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) is a genetically inherited autosomal recessive condition
and OCA2, tyrosine-positive albinism, is the most prevalent type found throughout
Africa. Due to the lack of melanin, people with albinism are more susceptible to the
harmful effects of ultraviolet radiation exposure. This population must deal with
issues such as photophobia, decreased visual acuity, extreme sun sensitivity and skin
cancer. People with albinism also face social discrimination as a result of their
difference in appearance. The World Health Organization is currently investigating
the issues concerning this vulnerable population.

Methods

Systematic electronic search of articles in PubMed concerning albinism in Africa.
Furthermore, a World Health Organization (WHO) pilot survey of albinism was drafted
in English, French and Portuguese, and distributed to African countries through WHO
African Regional Offices (AFRO) in an attempt to gather further information on albinism.

Results

Epidemiologic data on albinism, such as prevalence, were available for South Africa,
Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Nigeria. Prevalences as high as 1 in 1,000 were reported for
selected populations in Zimbabwe and other specific ethnic groups in Southern Africa.
An overall estimate of albinism prevalences ranges from 1/5,000 – 1/15,000. In addition,
both the literature review and the survey underscored the medical and social issues
facing people with albinism.

Conclusion

The estimated prevalence of albinism suggests the existence of tens of thousands of
people living with albinism in Africa. This finding reiterates the need for increased
awareness of and public health interventions for albinism in order to better address
the medical, psychological and social needs of this vulnerable population.

Albino girl Yvonne Edozien of Nigeria

Background

Oculocutaneous albinism (OCA) encompasses a heterogeneous group of genetic conditions
with an autosomal recessive inheritance. It is characterized by hypopigmentation of
the skin, hair and eyes due to a reduced or lack of cutaneous melanin pigment production
[1]. Consequently, in Africa, the affected individuals have sandy coloured hair, white
chalky skin and light brown or blue eyes, making them more susceptible to the harmful
effects of ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

There are two types of OCA: tyrosinase negative (OCA1) and tyrosinase positive (OCA2).
In OCA1, there is little or no melanin production due to the lack of a functional
tyrosinase, the critical enzyme required in the melanin biosynthetic pathway. In the
more prevalent OCA2 type [1] there is some level of tyrosinase activity, thereby producing some red-yellow photomelanin
pigment that gives rise to sandy coloured hair and light brown irises [1].

There is growing evidence of social discrimination and stigmatization directed towards
this population [4,5]. Along with their differences in appearance, a lack of knowledge about albinism in
the community leads to such stigma. For example, the etiological beliefs about albinism
continue to be heavily influenced by culture and superstition, rather than genetics
[6]. The goal of this review is to discuss the current knowledge on public health aspects
of albinism in Africa, focusing on the epidemiology as well as medical and social
issues. We also recommend further actions to alleviate this situation for the affected
populations and countries. As a basis for the review we conducted a systematic literature
search on albinism in Africa and conducted a survey among African WHO Member States.

Methods

Identification of publications

We conducted a literature search using PubMed with no date or language limitations.
The search was conducted from June to July of 2005. The key terms used in this first
set of searches included: albinism, albino(s), Africa, epidemiology, population study, prevalence, health, cancer,
social and psychological.

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

References which were not peer reviewed, did not specifically relate to Africa and/or
albinism, were duplicates or focused only on basic scientific aspects of albinism,
were excluded. For a small number of articles, only the abstracts were included because
the full texts were unavailable.

After reviewing the remaining abstracts and full texts of our first search, we only
found pertinent information for the following countries: South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania,
Nigeria. Therefore, we extended the search in a country-specific manner and used key
words including the countries listed above, along with the term "albinism". Efforts
were made to contact some of the authors who study and had published articles concerning
Albinism in Africa. Additionally, a manual search of reference lists was conducted
but no additional useful references were identified.

We attempted to follow the guidelines outlined by the MOOSE group [7] but since the information obtained through our study was not intended to be strictly
quantitative but rather a narrative summary, we included only the pertinent points
of the MOOSE criteria.

WHO albinism information survey

A pilot questionnaire was drafted to augment the limited results of the literature
search on albinism. This is shown in Appendix 1. The topics covered included data
availability, medical issues, health care access, social stigmatization, economic
status and community support/outreach programs. The survey was available in English,
French and Portuguese and distributed via the WHO African Regional Office (AFRO) to
its African Member States.

Results

Systematic literature review

The search yielded a total of 306 publications. 76 publications without abstract,
mainly letters and commentaries, were excluded. After application of the inclusion
and exclusion criteria, only 15 publications with full texts remained. These publications
were chosen because they contained epidemiological information and/or data on medical/social
consequences of living with albinism. The epidemiological, medical and social concerns
facing this population were analysed, by country. Prevalence data by country were
abstracted and entered into a table. Information on non-quantitative issues of interest
for this review were abstracted in a similar way and summarized for presentation and
discussion.

Epidemiology: prevalence

Seven publications (6 cross-sectional, 1 follow-up study) contained epidemiological
data on prevalence for South Africa, Zimbabwe, Tanzania and Nigeria, as shown in Table
1. The prevalence of albinism from these studies ranged from as low as 1 in 15,000
in the East Central state of Nigeria [8] to as high as 1 in 1,000 in the Tonga tribe of Zimbabwe [9]. A paper from Cameroon [10] lacked clarity in its study design making the epidemiological data difficult to interpret.
Generally, albinism is considered to be a relatively common hereditary condition among
the southern African populations.

Table 1. Estimated prevalence and number of people with albinism by country

South Africa

In 1982 Kromberg et al. studied prevalence in the ethnic groups in Soweto and Johannesburg,
South Africa. 206 individuals with albinism were surveyed and the 1970 census data
for Johannesburg (803,511) was used to calculate the overall prevalence of 1 in 3,900
[11]. In terms of ethnicity, the prevalence was lowest (1/4,794) among the Xhosa people
and highest (1/2,041) in the Southern Sotho population. Albinism prevalences among
the Swazi (1/2,716) and the Tswana (1/3,481) were slightly lower [11].

High prevalence does not seem to exclusively occur in urban regions. A prevalence
of 1 in 1,515 was reported from a prospective study of congenital anomalies of liveborn
neonates in Sovenga, a more rural region in Northern Transvaal, South Africa [12]. This is somewhat higher than the national rate of 1 in 3,900 [11].

Zimbabwe

A school-based study in Zimbabwe ascertained 157 albinism cases among 772,758 primary
school pupils, giving a prevalence of 1 in 4,922. Similar results (1/4,476) were found
among secondary school students. However, there was a substantial difference in the
prevalence when the data were analysed by provinces: the prevalence in Matabeleland
South (1/7,539) was only half of that found in Mashonaland East (1/3,843) [13].

Similar to South Africa, there was also a sizeable difference between rural and urban
populations in Zimbabwe, most of which was due to Harare's high prevalence of 1 in
2,792 and 1 in 2,661 in the primary and secondary schools, respectively. Overall,
urban schools, including Harare, had a prevalence of 1 in 3,268 compared to 1 in 4,694
in the rural schools [14]. As mentioned previously, an extremely high prevalence of 1 in 1,000 was reported
among the small Tonga tribe, who resides in an isolated rural community of Zimbabwe
[9].

Tanzania

Although there have been some studies addressing the health conditions of people with
albinism in Tanzania, the data available on prevalence are not as extensive as for
South Africa or Zimbabwe.

A study of individuals with albinism who were registered in the Tanzania Tumour Centre
in Dar-es-Salaam estimated a prevalence of 1 in 1,400. However, this estimation is
difficult to extrapolate to the entire population, given the data's limitation only
to those individuals enrolled in the registry [17].

Most
of the albinos in Tanzania are found to be economically poor as they
are unable to indulge in meaningful economic activities due to their
vision problems and sensitive skin, particularly because they have
cannot stand the sun. Because of being poor, the unfavorable sun and as
the temperature rises due to global warming, this makes their
condition worse as the inherited disorder gets worse and worse, day
after day.

Since they cannot afford to use skin protection and many of them
develop life-threatening skin cancers and also most of them become
blinded by the sun. As a result, the life span of Tanzania albinos is
slightly lower compared to others."
Tanzanian mother with her albino child

Location of Albinos in Tanzania

Albinos
are scattered all over the country. However, the biggest population is
found in the north west of Tanzania near the Lake Victoria. The towns
include Kasulu, Kahama, Shinyanga, Mwanza and Geita. They are also
found in neighboring countries of Burundi, Rwanda and Uganda. The total
number of albinos in Tanzania is estimated to be 200,000.

Most of the albinos are Wasukuma by tribe. In Tanzania, many
locals believe that when a person is born with albinism is a result
from his or her family being cursed. Some people also think that
albinos are ghosts and that they do not die but vanish unlike other
human beings. Majority of albino are now hiding in fear as they are not
fully accepted by the community and now due to people’s new belief
that their body parts can bring luck charms in their lives. Their body
parts, these include skin, hair, arms and legs are now priced and sold
in a black market in Tanzania."see:http://www.mtholyoke.edu/~marik22b/classweb/worldpolitics/page%201.html

Masai woman and her albino baby

Nigeria

Nigeria's data on the epidemiology of albinism were also sparse. A prevalence of 1
in 15,000 has been reported for the East Central state through a study investigating
people with albinism attending the hospital with dermatological problems. To these
individuals, a questionnaire concerning demographical information such as age and
gender as well as knowledge of other persons with albinism was distributed. Then,
the authors expanded the investigation to educational, health and religious institutions
and markets in order to reach a broader population [8]. The prevalence in this study is considerably lower than what has been reported for
the other countries, but comparisons are hampered by the study design employed.

Regional differences: urban vs. rural

Findings of higher prevalence in urban areas may be due to various factors. Given
the higher population density, it may have simply been more feasible to collect comprehensive
data from urban areas. Migration to urban areas for education, health care and indoor
occupations may also be contributing factors.

In addition, since many of the studies were school-based, one must consider the role
of attendance. For example, urban families may have a greater ability to send their
children with albinism to school. There may be more schools in urban areas that accommodate
for the visually disabled and for the UV protection needs of this population. On the
other hand, some families may only be able to send one or a limited number of children
to school, in which case it is possible that the affected child will not be chosen
in the majority of families. All of the above situations introduce bias into the prevalence
estimates.

Regional differences: ethnicity

Ethnic differences also influence prevalence estimates. In Zimbabwe, given that the
majority (83.1%) of people with albinism belonged to the Shona tribe, the diversity
in the observed prevalence may be due to a founder effect or genetic drift since the
Shona population have generally limited their residence to southern Africa [14]. Kromberg et al. also reported similar variations in South Africa [11].
Albino footballers,Tanzania

Aside from the limited geographic mobility, consanguinity, along with other traditional
marriage practices, may also be factors to consider in evaluating current and future
prevalence trends of albinism [6,8,9,11].

Albino

Life expectancy and mortality

Several publications report a relatively greater number of individuals with albinism
in the younger age groups (below 30 years). In the East Central state of Nigeria,
89% of identified people with albinism were in the age range of 0 – 30 years [8] while another study reported that 77% were under the age of 20 in the same Nigerian
state [15]. A mean age of 17.8 years was reported in Soweto, South Africa [16].

Also in Cameroon, Nigeria and Tanzania, observations indicate a low number of people
with albinism in age groups above 30 [8,10,17].

Whether this truly points to an increased mortality of people with albinism at a younger
age (less individuals reach higher age groups) could only be evaluated on the basis
of more specific mortality data. However, such data are missing.

Medical issues

In this particular population, ocular problems are ubiquitous. In some studies, visual
difficulties have been reported to occur in 100 % of people with albinism [8,15]. Due to the lack of retinal pigment required for the normal development of the visual
system [15] these individuals experience photophobia, myopia and other visual problems including
nystagmus and strabismus.

Aside from the visual handicaps, UV exposure is highly detrimental to the hypopigmented
skin. Lack of melanin predisposes this population to severe skin damage. The majority
of these lesions are in the most sun-exposed parts of the body such as the face, ears,
neck and shoulders. Skin lesions include sunburns, blisters, solar elastosis/keratosis,
ephelides, lentiginosis, and superficial ulcers. Ultimately, squamous cell, and less
frequently basal cell, carcinomas may occur [15-18].

Psychological and social issues

In addition to their health concerns, people with albinism must also deal with psychological
and social challenges. In Nigeria, one study collected written accounts of people
with albinism. These individuals stated that they tended to be more withdrawn from
social situations to avoid being noticed. They were more emotionally unstable and
had less assertive personalities than people without albinism. Also, they considered
their society to be generally unkind and rejecting, even though they did have close
friends [4].

Much of the social discrimination appears to stem from the communities' lack of education
about albinism's etiology. There is limited awareness of its genetic inheritance and
therefore, traditional myths and superstitions are numerous [6]. For example, some of these beliefs link albinism with (culturally unacceptable)
conception during menstruation or consider albinism as a punishment from the gods
for an ancestor's wrongdoing [8]. Due to this socially rooted discrimination, the quality of life of people with albinism
may be compromised. For example, they are more likely to drop out of school and face
more difficulty in employment and marriage compared to the rest of the population.

Furthermore, their family members may also experience discrimination from the community.
In light of the traditional myths concerning albinism's etiology, mothers of affected
children may be subjected to a great deal of stigma and psychological distress.

WHO albinism pilot survey results

WHO drafted and distributed a survey (see 1) to the African WHO Member States enquiring about information on the epidemiology,
medical and social issues affecting people with albinism. The survey was intended
to provide a qualitative overview of these issues in the countries concerned.

Additional File 1. Albinism: Information Survey WHO 2005. The pilot survey was drafted in English, French
and Portuguese and then distributed through the WHO Regional Offices in order to gather
further insight into the problems facing people with albinism and any available epidemiological
information throughout Africa.

Follow up on the above study which identified a cluster of OCA2# in Tonga community; 11 albinism cases; 5 adults and 1 school girl were interviewed

1/1,000

---

Luande et al. (17)

Tanzania/36,977,000

Cross-sectional study. Questionnaire to 350 registered people with albinism in Tanzania
Tumor Centre

1/1,400

---

Okoro (8)

Nigeria/124,009,000

Cross-sectional study. Questionnaires distributed to people with albinism who came
to the hospital; expanded the study to educational, health, religious institutions
and markets in East central state; 517 albinism cases

** Although it is a crude estimate, we used the prevalence of the specific population
in the study and the total population in the country to extrapolate the absolute number
of people with albinism within a country

# OCA2 = Oculocutaneous albinism Type 2 (Tyrosine positive)

+ The absolute number in this case was estimated from a prevalence rate of 1 in 1,515
which was provided by the study's authors

--- The population studied makes it difficult to generalize the prevalence to the
entire country. Therefore, the absolute number within the country was not estimated

We distributed three language versions of the WHO Pilot Survey: English, French and
Portuguese. Among the survey responders, the Francophone countries included Rwanda,
Niger, Mauritius, Mali, Equatorial Guinea, Congo, Cameroon. The Anglophone countries
included Ghana and Tanzania and the Lusophone countries included Sao Tome and Principe,
Mozambique and Guinea Bissau. The countries were divided into Francophone, Anglophone
and Lusophone groups purely on (official) language grounds. There was no intent to
use this grouping for comparative analyses.

Diandra Forrest, Albino model

Prevalence data were unavailable for the majority of the countries. A few countries
did report the prevalence of albinism, but there was much variation and, in comparison
to published data, the reported high estimates appeared somewhat unrealistic. Furthermore,
the data sources of these estimates were not specified.

In terms of health care, survey respondents felt that much more needs to be done to
address the needs of people with albinism. None of the countries, aside from Tanzania,
had specialized clinics to handle the dermatological consequences of albinism. Five
countries (Sao Tome and Principe, Mozambique, Mauritius, Congo and Tanzania) reported
that they provide some advice on UV radiation protection for people with albinism
in clinics and hospitals. Overall, however, the care was felt to be incomprehensive
due to the lack of medical personnel's awareness of albinism, discrimination against
people with albinism and/or a lack of resources such as sunscreens. Also, the aid
was only provided if actively sought. This passive approach raises concern considering
many persons with this condition may not seek regular medical attention.

Most of the surveys reported a lack of trained medical personnel. Challenges to better
health care also included the barriers existing among the health workers in approaching
people with albinism (lack of sensitization), lack of finances and education among
this population, high cost of protective products such as sunscreens and hats/medications
and social preconceptions and marginalization. Seven of the surveyed countries (Congo,
Equatorial Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Sao Tome and Principe, Tanzania) reported
the use of traditional medicines by people with albinism. However, the information
in the survey was limited and it could not be substantiated whether people with albinism
use traditional medicines differently from the general population, both in terms of
frequency and rationale.

The discrimination of people with albinism is not only limited to the health care
arena. The surveys report a great amount of stigmatization in schools from fellow
students and teachers and even within their own families. Stigmatization stems from
traditional explanations of albinism of which there are many (see above) [8]. In addition, the curiosity of their different skin colour plays a role. Most countries
reported a lack of knowledge about this health condition among the general public.
Survey respondents also felt that many people with albinism did not fully understand
their own condition. This social discrimination was seen as an obstacle to building
relationships and finding/maintaining an occupation. Therefore, most people with albinism
were generally reported to be of lower, if not the lowest, economic status in their
society.

In light of these difficulties, it is not surprising that many surveys reported abuse
and psychological problems within this population.

Albino model, Diandra Forest

However, there is some evidence of social support for people with albinism. This includes
dedicated NGOs such as "SOS Albinos in Mali" and "SOS enfants vulnerables sans frontiers"
in Congo. Tanzania and Congo reported that children with albinism who have visual
difficulties may enroll in specialized schools for the blind. Community outreach programs
exist in some surveyed countries (Congo, Cameroon and Tanzania).

Discussion

Albinism is a disorder that affects individuals and their families medically, socially
and psychologically. For some, these latter issues may be more of a burden than the
actual medical complaints. While the medical issues have been studied for decades,
we have tried, through this review, to shed light upon the dearth of currently available
epidemiological and public health data on albinism in Africa. Given this lack of data,
a prevalence range for the general population from 1/5,000 – 1/15,000 seems plausible,
indicating that tens of thousands of people in southern Africa are affected. Though
low in comparison with other major health problems, these figures and the even larger
numbers of indirectly affected persons, qualify albinism as a public health issue
deserving further attention to increase the awareness of and information about this
condition.

Our survey results augment the literature review. The main focus was on health service
and social issues, and responses clearly indicate a range of particular problems for
people with albinism. One concern is that health care systems appear to lack responsiveness
to the needs of people with albinism in most of the countries surveyed, but there
are notable exceptions. In terms of social status the survey reports that people with
albinism frequently are disadvantaged, and several associated factors were noted by
respondents. However, also here the picture may be broader: across Africa there are
numerous examples of people with albinism in high socioeconomic strata, as professionals,
politicians, musicians etc. Some have used their public status to support action for
people with albinism.

In terms of our survey, there are several limitations. The number of responding countries
was small and due to the dissemination mechanism employed, we had little influence
on the choice of actual respondents to the survey. Therefore, it is likely that not
all respondents were fully aware of the scope and depth of problems facing the population
of people with albinism in their country. Accordingly, we found varying degrees of
detail and specificity in the responses. The responses should be seen as anecdotal
rather than based on scientific studies; in this pilot survey we did not ask for specific
supporting scientific evidence. Nevertheless, the survey provided some valuable information
and shed light on the gaps in knowledge. These can serve as a guide for more detailed
assessments and programmes in the future.

A multidisciplinary approach is recommended for future research and intervention programmes
[6]. Epidemiological research should include more representative and better defined populations.
The issue of premature mortality among people with albinism clearly needs to be explored
further, as well as the hypothesized causes of urban/rural, regional and ethnic differences.
Medically, health care providers need to be educated about albinism and the special
needs of this patient population. Socially, efforts need to be made to increase awareness
on the different aspects of this disorder. By informing the public about albinism,
one can hope to gradually decrease the discrimination within the health care arena
as well as in the society at large.

Public health programmes and intervention recommendations

Public health programmes need to take into account the various challenges facing people
with albinism. Currently, there are some programmes in place to address the medical
concerns of this population in certain parts of Africa. For example, the Regional
Dermatological Training Center (RDTC) in Moshi, Tanzania runs a mobile skin care clinic
where a doctor and a nurse regularly visit villages to check the skin of people with
albinism and provide education on protection from UV exposure [19]. Also, in South Africa, at a school for the visually impaired, there are covered
walkways, trees in the courtyard and shutters on the windows in order to decrease
the UV exposure [5].

However, further efforts in more African countries are required to adequately address
health and social needs of people with albinism. Many of the following recommendations
have been mentioned in previous publications [5,6]. Our suggestions for action include:

• Conduct research/surveys to determine the prevalence of albinism in the country

• Based on research information, develop appropriate strategies for assisting people
with albinism that include the following:

Integrate albinism awareness in the school curricula, especially to correct misconceptions
about the etiology of albinism

Educate counsellors in schools about albinism

Train health care providers at clinics and hospitals about albinism and the effects
that UV exposure can have on this condition

Encourage community self-help support groups

Implement programmes to aid people with albinism in finding indoor occupations

WHO's INTERSUN programme [20] provides information about the adverse health effects of excessive UV exposure and
can serve as a resource for national and local authorities.

Conclusion

Albinism, especially in Africa due to extreme sun exposure, is a condition that requires
further attention than in the past. Although prevalence data are scarce and further
epidemiologic research is needed, the number of people living with albinism in Africa
is likely to be as high as tens of thousands. Our findings underscore the need to
better address the already known medical problems facing people with albinism, but
also issues of social discrimination against this population. Some progress has been
made thus far in terms of medical and social care but we hope to further increase
the awareness of albinism throughout African societies in the future. Public health
action should focus on educational, medical and occupational settings.

Competing interests

The author(s) declare that they have no competing interests.

Authors' contributions

MR developed the project idea. EH and MR formulated the questionnaire. EH performed
the literature review. EH and HZ organized and analysed the survey, drafted and critically
reviewed the paper. MR provided sections to introduction and discussion. All authors
reviewed and agreed on the final version.

Mucubal tribe albino

Acknowledgements

We thank the WHO AFRO Office for the distribution of the Albinism Information Survey,
the survey respondents for their cooperation, and Dr. Patricia M. Lund for help in
the preparation of this manuscript. Funding was provided by the Dean of School of
Medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. No further external funding
was obtained.

people shouldn't feel special because of the "white" label or race, albinism is normal only that albinos lack pigmentation, some albinism are outgrown, redheads in fact only have one type pigment but lacking all others.

Well said! Albinism is a genetic disorder, an error in the genes. As for the Europeans, they are Indian albinos. Yes, the early Indians came from Africa as well, but Their albino offspring went to Europe. They have the same hair and other features like many Indians, not all.

Click on the following link for the evidence: https://www.google.nl/search?q=indian+albinos&aq=f&um=1&ie=UTF-8&hl=nl&tbm=isch&source=og&sa=N&tab=wi&ei=y5ibUeCkNoaJ0AWVroCYCQ&biw=1680&bih=922&sei=zpibUZPpL7KW0QXIw4GoCg

1. I don't know why you would seek to equate black people with being a step backward on the evolutionary ladder, especially as a source of pride. 2. You speak of white Europeans as if they were evil for drawing religious pictures that reflect their own image, and you cast them in an evil light for saying people who are not like them are cursed, yet when black Africans did they exact same thing, to their very own children who were born of their blood and body, you speak of it as if it's the most natural thing that could ever occur.... So.... Segregation is only ok if you're doing it to your immediate family?3. The exact same genetic percentage that separates the different races of humanity is the percentage that separates dogs from wolves, so unless you are trying to prove black people are the wolves of the human world, that seems to me a mute point. 4. I'm not saying it's implausible for white people to have descended from black people, I'm just saying, I'm not sure what you're hoping to accomplish with this line of reasoning. 5. The statement that blonde people are in danger of "dying out" when your entire article is basically about the fact that people of any race, at any time, might basically spontaneously be born blonde seems ludicrous.6. Since you brought up the bible. I just want to point out that Jesus was a Jew. I wasn't around 2000 years ago, but I'm pretty sure that qualifies him for neither black nor white. The Romans on the other hand were mostly white. and we all saw what they did with the Greek religion. I digress. Random point of fact, I'm not black, but my brother in law is an albino, so, yes, I was highly mortified to hear about how albinos are treated in most of Africa. Your article did lead me to believe that it's not the entirety of Africa that does these things to albinos, just, you know, most of them.....

"3. The exact same genetic percentage that separates the different races of humanity is the percentage that separates dogs from wolves, so unless you are trying to prove black people are the wolves of the human world, that seems to me a mute point."

That's exactly what black people are. Or "early Africans". It's not scientifically accurate to call them black people

"4. I'm not saying it's implausible for white people to have descended from black people, I'm just saying, I'm not sure what you're hoping to accomplish with this line of reasoning."

the reality is europeans are more closer to africans in skull morphology only difference is africans have very thick and heavy skull even closer would be the australoids in my analogy observing the skulls of different "races" australoids seem to be "older" followed by caucassian then africanand finally asian. in my opinion we human beings will look more and more "asiatic" in the future aswe no longer need a thick or heavy skull as our ancestors did living in a harsh environment.